In West Bengal, violence broke out between the workers of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) party ahead of the Panchayat elections scheduled on July 8. The clash reportedly took place in Raghunathpur of Purulia district, leaving several people injured and various houses damaged. The police officials have been deployed in the area to control the situation.
This incident in Purulia is not an isolated one. Beforehand, there were continuous clashes in different parts of the state. One of the violent incidents took place in the Block Development Office in Birbhum’s Ahmadpur where crude bombs were reportedly thrown.
The Calcutta High Court has given an order on Wednesday, asking the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) to requisition the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) for deployment in the upcoming panchayat elections. The order specified that the number of CAPF companies should not be less than those requisitioned during the 2013 panchayat polls.
Many opposition parties have accused the Trinamool Congress of using violence and intimidation tactics to discourage their candidates from filing nominations for the upcoming elections.
The Panchayat polls in West Bengal will be held in a single phase on July 8, and the vote counting is scheduled for July 11. It is set to witness a fierce contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress as this election is seen as a litmus test ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
With just a few days left for the elections, it is expected that the situation will remain tense. It is necessary for the authorities to ensure that the elections are held peacefully and without any violence. The safety of the candidates and voters should be the highest priority. The people of West Bengal deserve a fair election process that is free from any harm or threat.
